For being in a land of wide-open spaces, things can get a little cozy on the Wiggins starting line. Colorado Track XC file photo.
Of all Colorado's regions, cross country is most thinly distributed on the eastern plains. Even with taking the liberty of including schools like Peyton, Ellicott, Strasburg, and Weld Central as "eastern plains" schools, there still isn't a large count to go around.
The Schools
By far, the school with the most cross country tradition on the eastern plains is Rocky Ford, home of the Meloneers. Rocky Ford owns five state championship trophies (all boys) and claims multiple state title winners Andy Montanez and Victor Montoya as part of their distinguished history. Chris Donelson was also a one-time Rocky Ford state champion in cross country. In recent years, Rocky Ford has pulled heavily out of Fowler to help sustain its cross country numbers, but it is still a thriving program under the direction of Coach Ron Shepherd.
At the opposite...